Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1887-05-26
THE MOVEMENT TO ADVANCE CITY
AND SUBURBAN INTERESTS.
A Committee Of Twenty-Five APP
pointed to Prepare Plans aor
City Improvements.

elected.
Mayor Gregory, IN assuming the duties
of the chair, said:
Gc1lHeapea: The object of this meeting is to
consider the edvisability of forming an ergan-
ization for the promotion of city improvements
and the advancement of local interests In
order to expedite matters, the first business be-
fore entering into discussion of the merits of the
various objects for which this meeting was
called, will be the selection of a competent
Committee of Arrangements with power TO act,
that they may formulate such plans for success
ful progress as the occasion and the general sit
uation may require.
l believe the time has come for the signifi-
canoe and weight of the word boom to be
demonstrated. Judging from the pulse of every
loyal citizen OF the Capital City, such must be
the case, and all that is now required is con-
centration of effort, combination of that push
and energy. such as has heretofore character
lied the average Sacramentan.
We have been shown in Los Angeles a lesson
of energy and pluck that should be our pride
to initiate, especially when we consider the
comparison of resources between the northern
and southern sections of the State, compari-
son showing the advantages to be widely in our
favor; yet. TO our Los Angeles brethren we are
IN great measure indebted for our share of the
benefits attained by the increased tide of immi-
grafton to California in 1886 and 1887.
1t is not the purpose of this meeting to discuss
local issues at present, but, as before stated TO
arrive at some definite plan of action whereby
an organization may be effected for the perma-
nent welfare of the city, with the hope and eX-
pectation that the proposed organization will
consist only of men who will put their best
energies forward in the march of Improvement
This is q matter of great Importance to our
city interests, as it bears directly upon every
issue wherein the city is factor, including the
| bonded Indebtedness, Improvement of streets
and highways, trade expansion, stimulation of
manufacturing and other enterprises, encour-
agement of every proposed method for advanc-
ing the general public interests-to virtually
live and work i'll the future OF Sacramento.
Z. W. Maslin was elected Secretary
Mayor Gregory called upon DIR. G. l..
Simmons for few remarks.
DR.. Simmons said he did not expect 10
be called upon at the beginning of the
meeting, and he hardly knew its full ob-
ject unless it was to advance the material
interests of the city. He had long been a
citizen of Sacramento and felt as much as
any one the need of city improvements.
| We need to take steps to increase our pop
ulation, do that which will bring US the
wealth which has been going past our doors
seeking homes and investments in the
southern and less favored portion of our
| State. For the first time in the history of
| the United States, immigration is coming
| to California in palace-cars They are peo-
pie of wealth and culture, who are used to
good society and pleasant surroundings
70 attract this class of immigrants We
should use every effort to enhance the ap-
pearance of our city and make il as invit-
| ing as possible. They come in the winter
season in order to escape the rigor
of those months in New England. So far
those people have invariably gone south.
from the very fact that the name Northern
California is suggestive of cold, snow and
| ice. What do they find in winter in this
city? Take a ride through our streets in
winter and see if you think their muddy
condition of J and K is credit to our peo-
pie or inviting to a stranger. This can ana
should be remedied. Nj street, upon which
the State Capitol fronts, should be grayeled
and improved, so that it could be travelled
with ease and comfort in winter as well as
summer. The visitor should not be COM
PEELED to view neglected gardens, walk
over rickety sidewalks, nor pass through
muddy streets. The low lots in the south
ern portion of the city, that look like ma
laria breeding pools, should be filled up.
IL is painful to present those things to YOU.
but it is only talking about those things
and seeking to remedy these defects that
will make our city the most beautiful and
attractive in the State of California. 1t
costs no more to lay artihcial-stone walks
or gravel the streets here than it does in
Oakland or San Francisco.
The doctor recently returned from n tour
of the southern portion of the State. and
spoke OF the Improvements made at Pasa-
dena and other new towns. The streets
were laid out and macadamized, sidewalks
laid even before buildings were erected. the
| people showing strangers that they them
selves had faith in the future of their
locality. A lack Of apparent confidence in
any community in the future of their sec
ton has chilling effect upon those seek
ing investments. In his opinion, he said.
what this city most needs and should have
tet loco hxry nxytr H..
| ply OF clear mountain water. WHY has
not this been done? | cannot answer;
have no means of knowing. The people
are all in favor of it. As matter of
health and economy it should be promptly
done | am with you in every and any
effort for the improvement of this CITY and
its contributing suburbs.
Frank Miller Endorsed the remarks of
DR.. Simmons. There could be many i'm
provements made in our streets ard side
walks. The appearance of the business
streets could be very much improved by
doing away with the old-fashioned avn
ings. One thing that has worked against the
city was the fact that her citizens in wears
past had no faith in her future. and refused
to buy up Indebtedness when it could have
been done for So cents on the dollar, and
let it go into the hands of outsiders
Col. Ed. L. Hamilton was called upon.
He said he had presented his ideas of
what was needed in the columns of the
RECoRD-UNIoN. This meeting should ap-
point to perfect an organization, and pro-
coed to carry out its objects in business
like manner.
Mayor Gregory said that under the Vroo-
man Act street work could not be done
where majority of the property owners
protested. The Board of Trustees had
proposed much needed work upon various
streets, but the owners of property had re-
fused to give their sanction, and the work
could not be done.
Grove L. Johnson said that while he
agreed with all that Dr.. Simmons said, he
hoped the reporters would not publish it.
1t was the rich men who should be stirred
up, not the poor man. The men who own
the property fronting upon the streets con-
troll all the improvements. Let Us have a
committee appointed composed of mem bers
who Will see to it that the sidewalks
and street Improvements are made: moral
suasion can do great deal with those men.
1t will not only make sidewalks and gray
eled streets, but it will put down sewers
Let this committee raise sum of money
to advertise the city and assist in prosecu-
ting those who disobey the city ordinances.
Let them interview capitalists and secure
foreign investments. l would suggest a
committee of twenty-five members Call
1t General improvement Committee.
with power to call meetings, stir up the
street sprinklers, and help to boom
things along generally. You can't do
anything without money, and it
should be forthcoming. If this
meeting is good for anything, if it means
anything, let US have an organized COM
| mittee. Without organization we can do
nothing. Individual efforts will accom-
plish but little. The papers will help us
they are pushing ahead all they can, ana
with unity OF action l believe this move
ment will result in great good. The cement
walks in southern cities, spoken of by DR..
Simmons, aTe laid down hy men of wealth
| from The East. Il is speculation on
their part, and they sell out TO
to the next man VINO comes along. We
must interview this people and show them
| that theirs is false economy: that in re-
fusing to make these needed improvements
/ they stand in their own light. l move
/ that a committee of twenty-five be appoint
/ ed TO be known as a general improvement
committee. We have been asleep long
| enough in Sacramento. We seem to have
suddenly y oke Mp and lei us keep awake.
Like our local baseball club, they started
in rather late, but are doing quite well.
laughter